Hercules fighting with Antaeus

Part of the 1634 Labors of Hercules series for the Hall of Realms, this painting shows Hercules fighting the giant Antaeus. The entire series was intended to glorify Philip IV by associating the Habsburg dynasty with the mythological hero, a standard device of royal propaganda. Zurbarán's austere, powerfully meditative style—white-robed monks in intense chiaroscuro, saints presented against dark backgrounds with sculptural solidity—made him the ideal painter for the Counter-Reformation religious orders of Extremadura and Seville.

The two wrestling figures are rendered with powerful anatomical modeling, their interlocking bodies creating a dynamic compositional spiral. Zurbarán's treatment of straining muscles and physical exertion is surprisingly effective given his usual focus on contemplative subjects.